Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3220

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Transnational corporations in the pharmaceutical industry of developing countries
1984;

Abstract:

Companies spend between 15-40% of sales on promotion in developing countries contributing to the price of drugs. As well, promotion encourages physicians to prescribe more expensive products. A survey of information in the United States Physicians’ Desk Reference and commercial compendia in Latin America found a significant discrepancy in the quality of information in the two different regions. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations has a code of marketing but this code has been criticized from inside as well as outside the IFPMA. Government policies towards promotion in six developing countries are reviewed.

Keywords:
*analysis/*analytic survey/developing countries/United States/promotion costs and volume/consumer drug prices/quality of information/commercial compendia/regulation of promotion/IFPMA/International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations/Physicians’ Desk Reference/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMMERCIAL DRUG COMPENDIA/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMPARISON BETWEEN DEVELOPING AND DEVELOPED COUNTRIES/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMER DRUG COSTS/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION/VOLUME OF AND EXPENDITURE ON PROMOTION